Taking photos of wildlife is one of the most thrilling things in the world of photography. Or in the world, period. There is just something deeply compelling about being with wild animals, gaining their trust, and documenting their beauty.
Interested? Here are tips to get you started.
Wildlife Photography Tip #1: Invest in a good camera.
If you are really want to explore this field of photography, you will need a digital SLR camera. Most of the point-and-shoot models simply won’t give you the reach you will need to safely photograph wild animals. Let’s not even get to the quality.
Wildlife Photography Tip #2: Get Close and Be Steady.
Centuries have been dedicated to hunting animals for food, so it’s no mystery why they flee at the sight of humans. To cope, many wildlife photographers use expensive and complicated blinds to hide their presence, but there is a cheaper (and probably safer) alternative— your vehicle.
Stabilizing your camera inside a car isn’t easy. While you could always set up a tripod and shoot from the driver or passenger seat, this can be constrictive, especially when animals are on the move. So here’s a cool tip: roll up your window to the level which you want to set your lens. Slip the pipe insulation (that you’ve slit on one side) that you bought earlier at the hardware store, and rest your lens on the edge. Instant stability, I assure you!
Wildlife Photography Tip #3: Hone Your Skills.
Before spending your year’s savings on a photography expedition to Africa, practice your skills in your own backyard. Find a good practice subject and work on your basics, so that when you go after the more exotic animals, you will have a solid foundation on the basic techniques and will stand a better chance of capturing a great image.
Wildlife Photography Tip #4: Know Your Subject
Read books and talk with hunters or experts on the behavior of the animal you want to photograph. Your local university may have researchers who specialize in the animal you’re trying to capture, politely ask them for tips via email—they will be more than happy to share their expertise, provided you make your intentions clear. Better yet, go directly to local rangers and park staff— they are an excellent resource for learning the activities and whereabouts of great subjects. As photographers, we are not able to spend all of our time out there, but they do.
Wildlife Photography Tip #5: Capture Action!
As you go deeper into this craft you will realize that the most compelling images aren’t the perfectly composed and exposed shots, but the ones that capture the animals in action. It sounds like common sense, but we often forget this in the excitement of just being near an animal. So study these animals’ hunting or feeding behavior— these are likely the times they will be on the move.
There you have it, the 5 tips. Good luck!
For photography lessons turn to our digital photography tips .
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